Moonlight Flame

As Ryn departed from the Eternal Forge, his mind wandered to Calyon's advice. "You should join the Hunter Guild after the tournament," Calyon had said. "It'll give you an identity as a hunter and keep unnecessary trouble at bay."

Now, standing at the gates of the renowned Hunter Guild, Ryn adjusted the devilish mask he had crafted to conceal his identity. "Better safe than sorry," he muttered. "If the world knows who I am, this place will erupt into chaos."

The guild's towering structure loomed before him, a hub where hunters from all across Vyranthia gathered. The location itself, Shadowspire Haven, was strategically built near the world's central ley lines, ensuring access to high-level quests and resources. As Ryn stepped inside, the cacophony of voices hit him—a bustling atmosphere of hunters exchanging tales, forming teams, and celebrating victories.

Ryn moved straight to the registration desk, where a young woman with glasses stood, sorting through stacks of documents. Her nameplate read "Marie." When she noticed him, her eyes widened slightly, likely startled by his devilish mask, but she quickly composed herself.

"Welcome to the Hunter Guild," Marie said, her voice polite but laced with curiosity. "How can I assist you?"

Ryn leaned slightly forward. "I'd like some details about the ranking system."

A sudden hush fell over the guild as nearby hunters overheard his question. Moments later, the silence broke into stifled chuckles and outright laughter. One burly hunter clapped his companion on the back, muttering, "Who doesn't know about the rankings? Did he just crawl out from under a rock?"

Marie flushed at the ridicule directed toward her newest client. She adjusted her glasses, her tone apologetic. "Sir, I'm sorry, but this is the first time someone has asked such a basic question."

Ryn shrugged, unfazed by the mocking laughter. "I'm not from this country," he replied calmly. "I just want to understand how things work here."

Marie nodded, glancing nervously at the gathered crowd before focusing on Ryn. "Of course. Let me explain. Our ranking system is divided into three tiers: Elite Rankers, Mythic Rankers, and Ethereal Deities."

Her explanation was interrupted by a large man stepping up beside Ryn, his imposing figure radiating arrogance. The man smirked, leaning uncomfortably close to Ryn. "Hey, little guy. Why don't you come with me? I'll show you how real hunters operate."

Ryn tilted his head, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Oh, I'd love to, but I've already reached my limit for dealing with ugly faces today."

The crowd burst into laughter, and the man's face turned red with anger. He drew his sword, pointing it at Ryn. "You've got quite the mouth, masked brat. Let's see how tough you are without it."

Before the man could act, Ryn grabbed him by the neck with one hand, his grip firm but controlled. Lifting the man effortlessly, Ryn stared into his eyes. "Don't waste my time," he said coldly, before tossing the man across the room. The hunter crashed into a table, sending mugs and plates flying. The room fell into stunned silence.

Ryn turned back to Marie, who was staring at him, wide-eyed. "So," he said nonchalantly, "about that ranking system?"

Marie stammered, pulling herself together. "R-right. As I was saying, Elite Rankers are graded at A+, Mythic Rankers are at SS+, and Ethereal Deities—the rarest—are graded at SSSS+. Only about seven percent of hunters ever achieve the Ethereal rank."

Ryn nodded thoughtfully, a faint smile hidden beneath his mask. "Interesting."

Marie hesitated, then said, "Would you like to register as a hunter? If so, we'll need to assess your aura to determine your initial rank."

"Lead the way," Ryn replied.

Marie guided him to a secluded room where a massive crystal stone stood, its surface shimmering faintly. A circular platform was marked with hand-sized indentations.

"Place your hand here," Marie instructed. "The stone will measure your aura strength and assign a rank accordingly."

Ryn hesitated briefly, recalling his immense power. "Better tone it down," he thought, suppressing his aura before placing his hand on the crystal. Even with his power reduced, the stone flared a brilliant crimson, causing Marie to gasp.

"Mythic Rank," she whispered in awe. "You're part of the 30%—that's incredible!"

Ryn chuckled softly, his voice amused. "And I wasn't even trying."

Marie looked at him, her curiosity piqued. "Why hide such power? If others knew, you'd be celebrated."

Ryn's tone grew serious. "When the time is right, the world will know. Until then, let's keep this between us."

Marie nodded reluctantly. "Understood. I'll mark your license as an Elite Ranker to avoid unnecessary attention."

They returned to the main hall, where Marie handed Ryn his hunter license. "Welcome to the guild," she said with a smile. "Enjoy your hunter life."

"Thanks," Ryn replied, pocketing the card. His eyes wandered to the quest board, scanning for something suitable for his first mission.

Nearby, a group of three hunters were tormenting a small girl with pale hair. Her frail figure trembled as they mocked her inability to control her wind magic. Ryn's eyes narrowed.

He approached the group, his presence looming. "Is this how hunters behave?"

The leader, a man named Mark, turned to face him, smirking. "And who are you to judge?"

"Someone who despises bullies," Ryn said coolly. "Let me join your team."

Mark laughed, mistaking Ryn for a fool. "Fine. Let's see how long you last."

Ryn ignored the mockery, extending a hand to the trembling girl. "I'm Ryn. Nice to meet you."

The girl hesitated before taking his hand. "I'm Stilla," she said softly.

Ryn smiled beneath his mask. "Let's work together."

With that, the newly formed group set out for their first mission, unaware of the surprises awaiting them in the dungeon ahead.